More diverse field of Oscar noms – Adult dramas, indie-spirited features dominate

25/01/2017

This image released by Summit shows Andrew Garfield in a scene from ‘Hacksaw Ridge.’ Garfield was nominated for an Oscar for best actor in a leading role on Jan 24, for his work in the film. (AP)

After a decade in the professional wilderness, Hollywood signaled that it had at least partially forgiven Mel Gibson. A previous Oscar-winner for “Braveheart,” Gibson was shunned by many industry power brokers when he was caught on tape making anti-semitic remarks to a police officer after being pulled over for a DUI in 2005. On Tuesday, Gibson was nominated for his directing work on “Hacksaw Ridge,” a gritty war drama that also earned a best picture and best actor nod for Garfield.

From a box office perspective, this year’s list of nominees was dominated by smaller, indie-spirited features and adult dramas. There were no “Inceptions” or “Avatars,” and the lack of a certifiable blockbuster could dim ratings.

There were a number of notable snubs and surprises. Hugh Grant (“Florence Foster Jenkins”), Tom Hanks (“Sully”), Amy Adams (“Arrival”) had been expected to pick up nods, but failed to get the call, while Michael Shannon, recognized for his work as an ailing lawman in “Animal Kingdom,” and Negga, managed to shoulder into the final five after missing out on other important critics group honors.

Jimmy Kimmel hosts this year’s ceremony. It marks his first time as emcee, but also represents a long-desired stab at synergy. ABC, which broadcasts the Oscars, also backs Kimmel’s late night program. The network has been pushing for the comic to host the show for years.

This year’s Oscar nominations were announced in a novel way. Instead of having Academy brass and the odd celebrity read out the lists of honorees, ABC had small interstitial videos with previous nominees and winners such as Marcia Gay Harden, Glenn Close, Brie Larson, and Ken Watanabe sharing their memories of their big mornings.